The Moment of Truth - Lesson 41

The Stake of the Great Conflict

This is now the conclusion of this set of Bible lessons. Time goes by so quickly when we immerse ourselves in the study of Your Word!

We thank You, Lord, for having guided us by Your Holy Spirit, and for having revealed to us so many precious truths.

Please accompany us once again, and show us the stake of the great conflict that is now taking place in our world.

We thank You again for everything You have done for us. In Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen.

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Revelation 12:12

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.

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1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.

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Knowing that he has been defeated by Jesus’ death and resurrection, Satan seeks only one thing: to take along with him the greatest number of people toward eternal perdition.

And he will use any possible means to succeed.

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2 Corinthians 2:10,11

For if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

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Ephesians 6:11

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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Satan pursues only one goal: to keep us away from God, by his lies, wiles, and snares, so that we lose sight of eternal life which God offers us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

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2 Timothy 4:3,4

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.

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Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

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Deceived by Satan, men often believe that many ways lead to eternal life.

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John 14:6

Jesus said to [Thomas],

«I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me.»

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Acts 4:11,12

[Jesus] is the stone which was set at nothing of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

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But the Word of God is straightforward. There is only ONE way leading to eternal life: Jesus Christ.

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While Satan seeks to destroy us, God seeks to save us:

«“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies,” said the Lord God: “Why turn yourselves, and live you!”» (Ezekiel 18:32)

«Seek you the Lord while He may be found, call you on Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.» (Isaiah 55:6,7)

«Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.» (Psalm 139:23,24)

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John 20:31

These are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.

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John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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Each one of us must therefore make a decision: to accept or to reject God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ.

This invaluable offer of salvation is now nourishing a great conflict pitting Christ against Satan.

And what is at stake in this great conflict? Each one of us.

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We must take a stand either for Christ, or against Christ:

«I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life.» (Deuteronomy 30:19)

«And if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.» (Joshua 24:15)

«You shall return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves Him not.» (Malachi 3:18)

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There are only two groups: for and against God. No one can remain neutral.

«He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad.» (Matthew 12:30)

«They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing. (...) From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even “Glory to the righteous!” But I said, “My leanness, my leanness, woe to me!”» (Isaiah 24:14,16)

«“Because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before My eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.” Therefore thus said the Lord God, “Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry: behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty: behold, My servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed.”» (Isaiah 65:12,13)

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Mark 13:13

[Jesus said,] «You shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.»

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1 Peter 4:16

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

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2 Timothy 3:12

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

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God does not hide anything from us: following Him will sometimes be difficult...

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Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

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Matthew 28:20

[Jesus said,]

«I am with you always, even to the end of the world.»

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... but if we sincerely want to follow God, whatever the difficulties may be, He promises that He will never forsake us.

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We can always rely on God’s presence by our side:

«Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.» (Isaiah 41:10)

«Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget you. Behold, I have graven you on the palms of My hands.» (Isaiah 49:15,16)

«For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.» (2 Chronicles 16:9)

«[Jesus said,] “He that stays in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.”» (John 15:5)

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1 Corinthians 12:12,26,27

For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (...)

Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

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God’s support is also expressed through the other Christians who share our faith.

We make up the body of Christ, His Church, and each one of us has a role to play within it, as a member of this body.

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Hebrews 10:24,25

Let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.

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It is therefore essential to find a congregation of believers sharing our faith, and join them.

Regular meeting together is strongly recommended, since it is the way to encourage one another.

And this is even more important as we «see the Day approaching».

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Matthew 13:45,46

[Jesus said,] «The kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.»

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1 John 5:11

God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

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Hebrews 2:3

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?

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The pearl of great price, which we must cherish above all things, is salvation in Jesus Christ.

It is important not to delay our decision to accept this precious salvation, especially since Jesus is coming soon.

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Daniel 12:1-3: Jesus will soon return to gather His people!

At that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.

And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the Book.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

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Matthew 28:19,20

[Jesus said,]

«Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you.

And, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.»

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2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.

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While we are waiting for Jesus’ return, each one of us must work for Him, teaching the people around us the way to salvation in Jesus Christ.

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Isaiah 48:17,18

Thus said the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,

«I am the Lord your God which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go.

O that you had listened to My commandments! Then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea.»

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Deuteronomy 5:29

O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

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We also have to seek, day after day, to better understand God’s will for each one of us, for the only way leading to happiness is the way God shows us.

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Psalm 119:9

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Your word.

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Proverbs 4:11

I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.

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Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do Your will; for You are my God: Your spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

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If we earnestly seek the truth, God will clearly show us the way to follow.

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Romans 12:2

Be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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Romans 13:11

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

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Let us therefore always seek to better conform our will to God’s will.

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James 1:22-25: We must know God’s word AND put it into practice.

Be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.

But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

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2 Timothy 3:14,15

But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them; and that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

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Acts 22:16

And now why tarry you? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

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We hope and pray that this set of Bible lessons bring you to take a stand for Christ, and to demonstrate your commitment to Him through baptism.

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Hebrews 10:37-39

«For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.»

But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

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Revelation 22:12

And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.